THOMAS MARRIOTT QUARTET – Sunday, July 12, 2009

Hosted by KPLU's Kevin Kniestedt (RESERVATIONS ARE CLOSED)
Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade.  The five-time Golden Ear award winner is a skilled instrumentalist, composer and producer, and is always seeking to expand the boundaries of jazz music in all its forms. Marriott’s diverse interests and skills are reflected in the range and success of his albums. His 2005 release on Origin Records, “Individuation,” was named among the top 10 jazz records of 2005 by WBEZ Radio in Chicago.  In 2007, “Both Sides of the Fence” received over 3300 spins nationally, pushing his album into the top ten on jazz radio.  “Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson” was released in early 2008 to wide critical acclaim.   Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, Thomas continues to perform on the stages of the world’s greatest jazz clubs and concert halls, as a leader and alongside the top names in jazz.  The Seattle native is featured on more than 50 recordings with musicians of all genres and styles.  His latest album, "Flexicon," was released in April 2009.  More information is available here.

PEARL DJANGO – Sunday, July 26, 2009
Hosted by KPLU's Dick Stein
KPLU favorites Pearl Django incorporate the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with American swing music, and they do it to perfection.  Their music reaches out across the divides of taste to a wide variety of audiences, including guitar enthusiasts, lovers of string music, bluegrass devotees, “world music” fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, and jazz buffs and aficionados of the new swing music.  Pearl Django were voted favorite area jazz band by Seattle Weekly readers in 2003.  They’ve performed at various venues and jazz festivals throughout the United States and abroad including Django Reinhardt festivals in France and Iceland.  Pearl Django has released nine CD’s to date.  The band’s most recent CD is Modern Times, released in 2007.  Pearl Django is Neil Andersson on guitar, Ryan Hoffman on guitar, Michael Gray on violin, Rick Leppanen on bass, and David Lange, accordion.  More info here. 

LLOYD JONES STRUGGLE – Sunday, August 9, 2009
Hosted by KPLU's Mary McCann
Lloyd Jones is a consummate guitarist/singer/songwriter/arranger/performer/ bandleader, and is one of the most original artists on the modern day blues scene.  Jones has performed with the likes of Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Dr. John, John Hammond, Etta James, Junior Wells, Curtis Salgado, Buddy Guy, and many more music legends.  Jones describes his soulful and intelligent fusion of funk, blues, and R&B as "storytelling with a Memphis groove." His songs have the quality that makes them sound as if they have been around as blues standards for years or they seem to have fallen out of some time warp from the golden days of R&B. His approach to the guitar is both economical and rhythmically sophisticated, with a style that can be as delicate as it is devastating.  And Jones' accomplished guitar and vocal work are complemented by some of the funkiest horn-rhythm-organ arrangements around.  More information is available here.